Oles-Yulian I. Shcherba

Junior Lieutenant Oles-Yulian Shcherba (call sign R2-D2) died on August 19, 2023 during an enemy tank shelling near the settlement of Urozhaine in the Donetsk region. He went to reinforce positions that were under threat of encirclement. During the battle, the lieutenant damaged an enemy armored vehicle, making it impossible for the enemy reserves to be replenished. Now the warrior is forever 26 years old. Oles-Yulian was born in the village of Hodovytsia, Lviv region. He graduated from school with a gold medal, as well as the Pustomyty School of Arts in piano and trombone. He studied at the Ukrainian Catholic University, where he mastered two specialties: "Psychology" and "Medical and social support for persons with disabilities". During his studies, the young man worked as an assistant in the Emmaus community, helping people with disabilities. After graduating from the university, he worked in the field of security and volunteered. He had the title of Master of Sports in archery, and was a committed vegetarian. He loved dancing, music, travel, cinema, and above all - the Carpathians. At the age of 23, Oles-Yulian underwent a complex heart surgery. After the start of the full-scale invasion, the young man voluntarily went to the TsKK and became a rifleman of the assault company as part of the 710th Brigade of the State Special Service. In February 2023, near the settlement of Krasna Hora in the Donetsk region, having fallen into semi-encirclement, the warrior took command of the unit, without waiting for orders. During the battles for Bohdanivka, he commanded the personnel of the 3rd assault platoon. According to his comrades-in-arms, during the battle he risked himself to evacuate a wounded comrade. Once he was wounded, but without fully recovering, he returned to service. For his courage and bravery, Oles-Yulian was awarded the Medal "For the Defense of Ukraine", the Badge of Honor, and posthumously - the Order of Courage of the III degree. "Calm and prudent, a true commander who always took responsibility for his actions and his comrades-in-arms. He was a person who lived his life with honor, dedication and great love for Ukraine. He had everything to build a successful career in peacetime, but with the start of the full-scale invasion, he made a choice - to defend the Motherland. He raised two younger godbrothers, becoming more than a brother to them. A true warrior, a patriot of Ukraine, an example of indomitability and strength of spirit. An exemplary Ukrainian officer, as the company commander told me," the defender's mother shared. Oles-Yulian was buried in his native village of Hodovytsia. The defender is survived by his mother, father and fiancée.